Best Free Wifi Calling App for Android in 2023
As our world continues to become more digitally connected, the need for efficient and cost-effective communication methods has become paramount. For those with an Android device, a plethora of free WiFi calling apps are available that offer voice and video call capabilities. In this article, we delve into the top picks for the best free WiFi calling apps for Android in 2023.
The Rise of Online Calling Applications
The market for online calling applications has shown significant growth over the past decade. In 2020, the market size was valued at an estimated $1.14 billion. Projections show a steady increase in this market size from 2021 to 2028, indicating a flourishing industry.
Choosing the right app for your needs can be a daunting task, especially when privacy is a top concern. It's advisable to opt for WiFi calling apps featuring robust end-to-end (E2E) encryption and messages that self-destruct after a certain period.
Analyzing the Top Free WiFi Calling Apps for Android
Here, we present a comprehensive list of the top free WiFi calling apps for Android, perfect for staying connected with loved ones or conducting business meetings.
Popular and free Texting and Calling Apps list:
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Talkatone
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Text Free
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Google Duo
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Skype
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TextNow
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WhatsApp
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Google Voice
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Viber
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Facebook Messenger
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Dingtone
Comparison Table of Top Texting and Calling Apps
In the table below, we compare some of the best free WiFi calling apps for Android on various parameters like best use cases, availability of unlimited free calls, supported platforms, and user ratings.
Let's delve deeper into each of these top free WiFi calling apps for Android.
Talkatone
Best for: Calling and texting using cell data or WiFi.
Talkatone is a powerful app that allows free calls using a custom phone number via VoIP or WiFi. It's particularly useful when you're traveling abroad.
Features:
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Custom phone number.
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Free call without a cell phone plan.
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Free WiFi calling without a data plan.
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Disposable phone number.
Verdict: Talkatone enables free calling and texting anywhere in the US and Canada and works even when you are abroad. However, you need to pay for international calls, and the service doesn't support emergency 911 calls and texting.
Price: Free
Website: Talkatone Android | Talkatone iOS
Google Duo
Best for: Making high-quality video calls for free on almost any device.
Google Duo is a free app that facilitates high-quality video calls. It works on almost all devices and platforms, including smart display devices such as Google Nest Hub Max.
Features:
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Voice, video, or text message.
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High-quality 720p videos.
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Group calling of up to 32 users.
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Family mode prevents accidental mutes and hang-ups.
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AR effects.
Verdict: Google Duo is a superior video and text calling app that allows free calls and texts. However, due to the high-quality video calls, the app requires a high bandwidth of up to 8MB per minute.
Price: Free
Website: Google Duo
Skype
Best for: Call and text anyone around the world online for free.
Skype, a Microsoft-owned messenger app, allows you to call and text anyone around the world for free. You can make unlimited free video calls and send text messages using Skype Messenger for free.
Features:
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Call anywhere.
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Available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Xbox, and Web.
Verdict: Skype is a free app for video calling and texting anyone online. You can also make low-cost calls directly to phone numbers by buying Skype credit.
Price:
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PC-to-PC: Free
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PC-to Phone (USA): $3.59 per month
Website: Skype
TextNow
Best for: Call and text using a real phone number anywhere in North America for free.
TextNow is a free phone calling app that works on your mobile and PC devices. You can buy a SIM card from TextNow to get a phone number. The service allows you to talk and text anyone in North America for free.
Features:
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Sim Kit
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Low international calling rates.
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Voicemail
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Group texting and conference calling.
Verdict: TextNow supports free unlimited calling and texting in the US and Canada only. International calling is free in certain countries up to a limit. You need to pay for international calling if you want to stay connected longer with your relatives or friends abroad.
Price:
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Sim Activation kit: $0.99 (one-time fee)
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Ad-supported calls: Free (US & Canada Only)
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Ad-free calls (Internationally): $9.99 per month
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Unlimited data: $19.99 per month
Website: TextNow
Text Free
Best for: Making calls and sending texts for free using a web browser, Android, or iPhone device.
Text Free provides a real US phone number, allowing you to text and call anyone for free. The app allows you to send SMS and MMS messages and supports free group messaging.
Features:
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Custom number
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Unlimited MMS and SMS messages
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Group messaging
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International calling
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WiFi calls
Verdict: Text Free offers a good overall package. However, many users have reported technical issues. The connection quality of online and WiFi calls is reported to be poor. Also, you need to be active daily, otherwise, the number gets deleted.
Price: Free
Website: Text Free
Best for: Making voice and video calls for free online.
WhatsApp is the most popular internet messenger app with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows you to connect with anyone around the world and even connect with your favorite brands and companies.
Features:
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Texts and group chat.
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Voice and video calls.
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Document sharing up to 100 MB.
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Group chats with up to 8 people.
Verdict: While WhatsApp is a globally recognized app, it is not the most private. The app shares data with Facebook for displaying customized ads and also shares messages with law enforcement agencies if required. There have also been security issues that allow hackers to gain access to recipients' data.
Price: Free
Website: WhatsApp
Google Voice
Best for: Local or international voice and video calling for free.
Google Voice is a free chat app that allows you to make local and international calls. The app provides you with a free phone number for making voicemails, texts, and calls. You can listen to or read voicemail transcripts. The app also allows you to block specific callers. It supports phone calling as well as voice and video calling.
Features:
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Voice and video calling.
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Phone calling.
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Google AI Spam protection.
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Call block.
Verdict: Google Voice is free for calls to the US and Canada only. Calls outside the US are charged. Also, the services are available in limited countries, including residents of Canada, the US, the UK, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal.
Price:
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Free for calls in the US and Canada
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International: $0.01 to $7.25 per minute
Website: Google Voice
Viber
Best for: Individuals and particularly students who want to share notes and collaborate with others.
Viber is a free and secure app owned by Rakuten, registered in Japan. The app is preferred due to its strong privacy features. It provides you with control over the personal data stored on Viber servers. The best feature of the app is the My Notes section, which allows you to save text, notes, and pictures.
Features:
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Share texts, photos, and videos.
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Record voice and video messages.
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Save notes (links, files, and text).
Verdict: Viber is one of the few messenger apps that are outside of the government's control. Viber chat history cannot be accessed by government agencies, unlike some other popular messenger apps like WhatsApp, iMessenger, and Facebook messenger.
Price: Free
Website: Viber
Facebook Messenger
Best for: Connecting with friends, family members, and businesses online.
Facebook Messenger, owned by Meta, allows you to connect with your family members, friends, and relatives. It also allows you to connect with businesses to find deals or make reservations online.
Features
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Connects with Instagram, Facebook, Portal, and Oculus.
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Transfer money through debit card, PayPal, or reloadable cards (the US only).
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One-to-one and group calls.
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Emojis and AR message effects.
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Face or fingerprint ID.
Verdict: Facebook Messenger makes it fun and simple to chat with others. Businesses can use the app to offer 24/7 customer services for free. However, you need to have a Facebook account to use the app. In addition, the app has privacy issues as the audio calls and text messages are recorded to provide personalized ads.
Price: Free
Website: Facebook Messenger
Dingtone
Best for: Making free text and calls for free via WiFi.
Dingtone is a powerful app for making unlimited calls for free. The app supports advanced features such as caller ID, call forwarding, and block calls. It also supports group conference calls for up to 8 individuals, and group messaging with 100+ individuals. It also supports Walkie Talkie mode for instant push talk function.
Features:
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Free international number.
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Call and text any mobile or landline number in 230+ countries.
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Unlimited international call.
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Caller ID, Call Block, and forwarding.
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Walkie Talkie.
Verdict: Dingtone app allows making unlimited free apps. However, some users complain about the intrusive ads. You will have to pay a monthly subscription for an ad-free version.
Price:
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Ad-supported: Free
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Ad-free: $1.99 per month
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Dingtone number (Ad supported): $9.996 per month
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Dingtone number (Ad-free): $14.99 per month
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Custom phone number: $4.99 to $19.99 per month
Website: Dingtone Android | Dingtone iOS
Conclusion
Our top recommendations for the best free WiFi calling apps for Android are Talkatone and Dingtone. Viber stands out as the most secure free calling app for those prioritizing privacy. Skype is an excellent choice for video conferencing. The most popular free social media apps for video calling and texting include WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.